Like so many plans for 2020, the timeline for Loula's Taverna and Bar, an exciting new Greek concept on Commercial Drive, was extended radically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And while the pandemic - namely the restrictions on indoor dining - is still keeping the doors closed for the moment, the team behind Loula's is ready to shout "Opa!" and welcome their guests.
Loula's is the project long in the works in the old Libra Room space, the jazz-centric bar/restaurant that wrapped its run up for good right after we turned to calendars to 2020.
The team behind Loula's has deep ties to the community, the hospitality industry in Vancouver, and each other; the new Mediterranean spot is the combined effort of Petro and Yianni Kerasiotis (owners of Nammos Estiatorio), Bill and Niko Kerasiotis and Marco Mirisklavos (co-owners of Sopra Sotto) and John Pavlakis (owner of Minerva’s).
The powerhouse crew is fuelling Loula's with the vibrant spirit of their Greek heritage. The goal is to create a lively atmosphere with lots of big share plates and some serious Greek Island vibes, right here in Vancouver.
'Looking through old family albums' inspired restaurant owners
To fulfil the ambition of sending you home with a happy and full belly, the food at Loula's will be created by Greek chef Manos Grammatikogiannis, who came to Vancouver from Athens and is behind Fraser Street's Nammos Estiatorio's authentic Greek fare. Expect to see similar Greek eats at Loula's, including lots of dishes intended to be enjoyed family-style.
Family - and a sense of feeling welcomed into a big Greek family party - will be at the core of the Loula's experience.
“The idea for Loula’s came to us while looking through old family albums. Back in the day, the dining culture in Greece was so wild and welcoming. We realized that we wanted to bring that to Vancouver and blend it with something fresh. And it was immediately clear to us that Commercial Drive was just the spot to do it in,” recalls co-owner Yianni Kerasiotis.
Loula's should be opening up later this spring. The restaurant is located at 1608 Commercial Drive.
